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NEW YORK, NY, October 31, 2001-"2001- A Shelf Space Odyssey", the UBS Warburg Annual Global Consumer Conference begins today at the Metropolitan Club in New York City and runs through Friday, November 2nd. The conference features presentations from over 40 chief executive officers and senior managers from leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers, grocery retailers and other retail formats worldwide. Prominent industry observers will provide luncheon presentations, offering insights into the trends and challenges facing the global sector.

"We are delighted to bring together both areas of the consumer market- manufacturers and retailers- to better understand the broad dynamics that affect all the players in the sector," said UBS Warburg Global Consumer Strategist David Rabinowitz. "The conference is timely because investors have historically favored the consumer sector during uncertain economic and market conditions," he added. The Global Consumer Conference will include an early look at what consumer companies expect in 2002; perspective that is especially valuable in light of the weakening global economy.

The Global Consumer Conference underscores UBS Warburg's unique and broad-based approach to the consumer sector. UBS Warburg provides insight and analysis on consumer manufacturers and retailers worldwide, with more than 150 CPG and 160 retail companies currently under coverage by 37 senior analysts. This research coverage extends to more than 35 countries, enabling cross-border and cross-sector comparisons.

The spectrum of CPG manufacturers and retailers presenting provide an unparalleled opportunity to understand the outlook for this critical and large sector of the global economy. The conference offers a unique opportunity to hear beverage, food, household & personal care manufacturers and their counterparts in auto, apparel, electronics, home improvement, grocery, luxury, and mass merchandise retailing at one venue. The dual track format enables attendees to hear from both sides of the consumer sector and affords the opportunity to learn about various initiatives across the sector.

Presentations by prominent CEO's from U.S.-based companies include Craig Weatherup, Chairman of The Pepsi Bottling Group, Betsy D.Holden and Roger K. Deromedi, co-CEOs of Kraft Foods, inc., and Steve Sanger, Chairman and CEO of General Mills. Leading global speakers include William G. Cooling, Chairman and CEO of Panamco LLC, Alf Duch-Pedersen, CEO of Danisco A/S, and Anthony Ruys, Vice Chairman of the Executive Board of Heineken N.V.

There will be listen-only telephone conference lines for the general public to hear the presentations. The live call-in numbers will be +1-800-500 0177 (domestic) and +1-719-457 2679 (international). The replay numbers will be +1-888-821-9369 (domestic) and +1-402-220 0849 (international). The replay line will be available for up to four weeks after the conference.

UBS Warburg is a business group of UBS (NYSE: UBS), one of the largest financial services firms in the world with 70,946 employees in more than 40 countries. The firm is a leader in equities, corporate finance, M&A advisory and financing, financial structuring, fixed income issuance and trading, foreign exchange, derivatives and risk management. UBS Warburg also offers a full range of innovative wealth management services through UBS PaineWebber, and provides private equity financing through UBS Capital.